What is the 5 word memory test?

The 5-word memory test is a simple cognitive assessment tool that involves the recall of a list of five words after a brief delay. The test typically proceeds as follows:

1. The individual is presented with a list of five unrelated words, one at a time.
2. The individual is then asked to recall as many words from the list as possible, immediately after presentation (immediate recall).
3. After a short delay of several minutes, the individual is asked to recall the words again (delayed recall).
4. The number of correctly recalled words is tallied for both immediate and delayed recall to assess the individual’s memory performance.

The 5-word memory test is often used in clinical settings to screen for potential memory deficits or cognitive impairments, and it can provide insights into an individual’s ability to encode, store, and retrieve information from memory.